Pianist-composer-arranger (and vocalist) Hiroe Sekine's second album, After the Rainfall (March 20, 2012 Release on Sekai Music), is a collection of her unique originals plus Brazilian songs, jazz standards, and a Beatles tune. The title suggests a sequel to her 2010 debut CD A-m (Rain), but Hiroe takes a new approach to this set of songs.
Without having three horns in front of the rhythm section—like the little big band of the first album—Hiroe Sekine (pronounced Hee-ROE-ay Say-KEE-Neh) used only one horn, guitar, and a rhythm section this time to create a simpler, lighter, and somewhat brighter sound. She also expanded her universe by adding her own voice to some tracks (including a vocal duet). For Hiroe, staying with the same direction and style heard on the last album would not have been a thrill. Using these new concepts in making “After the Rainfall" rewarded her with real excitement, enjoyment, and the freedom of being an indie artist. Each song flows nicely into the next and takes the listener on a journey.
When Hiroe thought about recording this album, the first thing that came to her mind was to infuse different genres like rock, pop, and Brazilian into jazz. Anxious to show the new set of tunes to Russell Ferrante (who produced her previous album) and to ask him to be her producer again, Hiroe recorded rough versions of the music at home and sent them to him. After listening to the demos, and liking what he heard, Russell agreed to work with her again. Two months later they were in the studio, recording the album with the engineer Geoff Gillette and the first-call Los Angeles musicians that Russell gathered for the sessions.
The sideman lineup includes Peter Erskine, Bob Sheppard, Larry Koonse, Jimmy Johnson, and others.
RAVES FOR HIROE'S FIRST ALBUM, “A-ME (RAIN)":
“Ms. Sekine chooses her materials well, arranging and elasticizing them with class to spare... Her own compositions are as indelibly imbued as the materials she interprets." —Mark Tucker, F.A.M.E.
“Her original compositions display a sense of originality and maturity associated with artists well beyond her age." —Gary Vercelli, Capital Public Radio
“This is how you put new legs on familiar material. Fantastic recording." —Jae Sinnett, WHRV-FM
“A fresh, new voice on the piano!" —Brad Stone, KSJS-FM
Without having three horns in front of the rhythm section—like the little big band of the first album—Hiroe Sekine (pronounced Hee-ROE-ay Say-KEE-Neh) used only one horn, guitar, and a rhythm section this time to create a simpler, lighter, and somewhat brighter sound. She also expanded her universe by adding her own voice to some tracks (including a vocal duet). For Hiroe, staying with the same direction and style heard on the last album would not have been a thrill. Using these new concepts in making “After the Rainfall" rewarded her with real excitement, enjoyment, and the freedom of being an indie artist. Each song flows nicely into the next and takes the listener on a journey.
When Hiroe thought about recording this album, the first thing that came to her mind was to infuse different genres like rock, pop, and Brazilian into jazz. Anxious to show the new set of tunes to Russell Ferrante (who produced her previous album) and to ask him to be her producer again, Hiroe recorded rough versions of the music at home and sent them to him. After listening to the demos, and liking what he heard, Russell agreed to work with her again. Two months later they were in the studio, recording the album with the engineer Geoff Gillette and the first-call Los Angeles musicians that Russell gathered for the sessions.
The sideman lineup includes Peter Erskine, Bob Sheppard, Larry Koonse, Jimmy Johnson, and others.
RAVES FOR HIROE'S FIRST ALBUM, “A-ME (RAIN)":
“Ms. Sekine chooses her materials well, arranging and elasticizing them with class to spare... Her own compositions are as indelibly imbued as the materials she interprets." —Mark Tucker, F.A.M.E.
“Her original compositions display a sense of originality and maturity associated with artists well beyond her age." —Gary Vercelli, Capital Public Radio
“This is how you put new legs on familiar material. Fantastic recording." —Jae Sinnett, WHRV-FM
“A fresh, new voice on the piano!" —Brad Stone, KSJS-FM
For more information contact Michael Bloom Media Relations.
